Harley-Davidson V-Rod reviews

Back in 2001, Harley-Davidson introduced its VRSC “V-Rod” to the motorcycle world to compete with both imported and domestic (U.S.) muscle bikes. The factory teamed up with Porsche to design the aptly-named “Revolution” engine to power this new drag bike, and the evolution of the “Revolution” has continued ever since.

One needs to look no further than the V-Rod Muscle to appreciate how the Vehicle and Powertrain Operations factory in Kansas City, Missouri, has spent the last 14 years. This drag bike maintains the design concepts of the original VRSC, with the subtle improvements that one expects given the popularity of the bike and the ever-increasing strides in technology over the past decade and a half.

Back in 2001, Harley-Davidson branched off into a sector I’d never thought to see, that of street performance machines. Sure enough, The Motor Company has had a hand in racing for years, from the old board trackers to the flat tack and the big hill-climbing events, but this isn’t quite the same thing as street-drags, and success in one sector does not necessarily guarantee success in another. H-D looked to broaden its range into the streets with the original VRSC, and the family has continued to evolve over the years.

Enter the 2017 Harley-Davidson V-Rod “Night Rod Special”, the low, dark and sinister branch on the V-Rod family tree. Given that the sportbike market is as competitive as ever, and the burgeoning “power-cruiser” sector is starting to elbow its way in as well, “stoplight burners” like this have an uphill battle to gain any real ground, especially for companies that are showing up late for the party. (Cough, H-D, cough cough.) Still to be fair, Harley has made some significant inroads thus far, and this latest variant looks to expand the VRSC footprint a bit further. Let’s see how they did.

If you are searching for an imposing cruiser with a modern design language than you should take a closer look at Harley’s new 2014 V-Rod Muscle.

The motorcycle features a fat 240 mm rear tire, dual exhaust with satin chrome finish, drag-style handle bars and LED tail lights. There is also a sleek fuel tank and a modern radiator design that was carefully created to merge seamlessly with the overall design.

At the heart of the motorcycle sits a liquid-cooled, Revolution, 60° V-Twin engine. The unit delivers a maximum torque of 87 ft-lb at 6,750 rpm and offers a fuel consumption of 37 mpg.
The engine’s power is sent to the rear wheel through a six speed transmission which is combined with a slipper clutch.

It is also worthy of being mentioned that the stopping power is assured by a set of capable Brembo brakes with ABS.

The 2014 Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle is offered with a starting price $15,849.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2014 Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle.

Promising to reward its rider with a commanding riding position and a huge amount of raw power, the 2014 Harley Davidson V-Rod Night Rod Special is a real masterpiece of design and technology.

Its unique style represents a tasty merge between Harley’s classic lines and modern trends and you’ll certainly like the chopped down fender, the futuristic headlight assembly and the streamlined profile.

At the core of the 2014 Harley Davidson V-Rod Night Rod Special sits the company’s legendary liquid-cooled, revolution, 60° V Twin engine which puts out a peak torque of 83.4 ft-lb at 6,750 rpm and offers an average fuel economy of 37 mpg.

The motorcycle is offered with a starting price of $16,249.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2014 Harley Davidson V-Rod Night Rod Special.

The Harley Davidson Night Rod received a few modifications for 2012. The bike features a new tapered tail section, lighter-weight wheels, and improved ergonomics with reduced reach to both the rider footpegs and handlebar.

The ride quality was also improved and the motorcycle comes with new inverted front forks and retuned rear suspension.

At the heart of the 2012 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special lies a rubber-mounted, liquid-cooled 1250cc Revolution V-Twin engine with dual overhead camshafts, four-valve cylinder heads and Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI). The engine’s output is rated at 125 hp at 8,250 rpm and 85 ft. lbs. of torque at 7,000 rpm. The engine is kept in leash by a refined five speed transmission.

The bike sits on Michelin Scorcher radial tires and the stopping power is assured by a set of Brembo triple-disc performance brakes.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2012 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special.

The V-Rod 10th Anniversary Edition is a tribute to the original 2002 V-Rod, the motorcycle that introduced the liquid-cooled Revolution engine and a new styling direction for Harley-Davidson. Brilliant Silver Pearl bodywork with color-matched frame are exclusive in the V-Rod line and evokes the anodized aluminum bodywork of the original V-Rod. Extra chrome and polished surfaces dazzle on the engine, exhaust and speed screen.

The motorcycle is powered by a liquid-cooled, Revolution, 60° V-Twin engine with a displacement of 1250 cc. The engine puts out 125 hp @ 8,250 rpm and 85 ft.lbs of torque at 7000 rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheel through a five speed gear box and the fuel consumption is rated at 37 mpg (city/highway).

The speed is kept in check by a set of Brembo triple-disc performance brakes which also include ABS.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2012 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX V-Rod 10th Anniversary Edition.

Harley-Davidson celebrates a decade of pavement-pounding performance with the V-Rod 10th Anniversary Edition motorcycle, one of three models in a 2012 V-Rod line that also includes an updated Night Rod Special and the V-Rod Muscle.

The first V-Rod is around for over 10 years now, and since its inception, the bike was received with a lot of interest by the riders who were seeking for a reliable and classic laid back cruiser.

The 2012 bike inspires confidence and power thanks to its imposing air scoops, muscle bound mufflers and the 240 mm rear tire. Dark and sinister, the restyled Night Rod Special also features a new tapered tail section, lighter-weight wheels, and improved ergonomics with reduced reach to both the rider footpegs and handlebar.

Power comes from a 1250 cc liquid-cooled Revolution engine which has enough grunt to reward you with sporty performances and a mighty roar.

The ride quality is assured by new inverted front forks and retuned rear suspensions.

Harley-Davidson’s classic cruiser, the V-Rod is now available in a special edition. The new Harley-Davidson V-Rod Night Rod Special received a special look and is aggressively styled from the front end to the back with the engine, wheels, forks, triple clamps and swingarm painted in a tasty black paint. Other notable styling details include the double-barrel exhaust pipes, fat rear tyre, low-Rise handlebar and the special radiator design.

The motorcycle is built on a very beautiful frame that was forged using an innovative process named hydroforming. Thanks to this new process the company’s engineers were able to form unconventional angles and apply fewer welds by bending and shaping metal pipes with high-pressure water.

Harley-Davidson is rolling out a fleet of new bikes, all of which should make fans of the iconic American motorcycle maker drool and grab for their wallets at the soonest possible time.

Even better, at least a few of these models are limited edition pieces, including the 2012 V-Rod 10th Anniversary, a commemorative model that celebrates the 10th anniversary of the brand’s V-Rod model.

In developing the frame for the bike, Harley went above and beyond to make something that will catch the awe and adulation of its customer base. Using an innovative process called hydrofoaming, Harley was able to build a strong chassis that features unconventional angles while applying fewer welds and bending and shaping metal pipes with high-pressure water. To go with the unique chassis, Harley-Davidson decked out the V-Rod 10th Anniversary model with plenty of striking features, including a Brilliant Silver Pearl bodywork that bears a striking similarity to the anodized aluminum bodywork of the original V-Rod models. There’s also an aluminum speed screen, a drag-style low rise handlebar, dual chromed mufflers, heat shields, polished forks, clamps, and handlebars, silver split 5-spoke cast aluminum wheels with machined highlights, a silver instrument cluster, a two-up bucket saddle, and special edition V-Rod 10th Anniversary badges.

Powering the V-Rod 10th Anniversary model is an engine that Harley built in collaboration with Porsche, an innovative technical masterpiece called the 1,250cc V-Twin Revolution. It’s a fuel injected, liquid cooled powertrain that comes with dual overhead cams, producing an output of 125 horsepower and 84 lb/ft of torque at 7,000 rpm with a combined fuel efficiency rating of 37 mpg.

The attached price tag for this special edition Harley-Davidson V-Rod 10th Anniversary model is $15,999, which is by no means cheap. But given the special edition tag and the fact that it’s a Harley-Davidson, there will always be a strong appeal for it in the bike-riding population of America.